Manufacturing method and apparatus for magnetic head sliders
Disclosed herein is a method including the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix, bonding a plate member to one side surface of the row block, bonding a row tool to another side surface of the row block bonded to the plate member opposite to the one side surface, and cutting the row block to prepare a row bar bonded to the row tool and having a row of the head elements. A bonding apparatus for realizing the above bonding steps is also disclosed.
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/360,205, filed Feb. 6, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus suitable for mass production of uniform magnetic head sliders.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a manufacturing process for a magnetic head slider, for example, a magnetic head thin-film is formed on a substrate, and is thereafter subjected to lapping. In this lapping, the heights of a magnetic resistance layer and a gap in the magnetic head thin-film are made constant. The heights of the magnetic resistance layer and the gap are required to have a high accuracy on the order of submicrons. Accordingly, a high working accuracy is required in a lapping apparatus for lapping a row bar as a workpiece.
A conventional magnetic head manufacturing process includes the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row bar having a plurality of magnetic head elements arranged in a row, and bonding the row bar to a row tool. This bonding step is carried out by using a bonding apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-277469, for example. This bonding apparatus is composed of an adhesive applying mechanism for applying an adhesive in a given amount to the row tool, a rinking mechanism for uniforming the adhesive between the row tool and the row bar, and a presser mechanism for accelerating the curing of the adhesive in the condition where the row tool and the row bar are positioned. In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-349222, there is proposed a method including the steps of bonding a plurality of row bars to a row tool, and thereafter cutting off one of the row bars. However, in this conventional method, the rigidity of the workpiece is reduced with the repetition of the cutting step, causing an adverse effect on the straightness of the workpiece.
As mentioned above, the magnetic head slider is subjected to lapping so that the height of the magnetic resistance film becomes constant. However, the row bar is very thin such that its thickness is about 0.3 mm. Accordingly, it is difficult to directly lap the row bar by the lapping apparatus, so that the row bar bonded to the row tool is pressed on a lap plate in lapping. During the lapping operation, a resistance in an electrical lapping guide element (ELG element) integrally formed in the row bar is always measured as known in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,991 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 5-123960, for example.
Then, whether or not the height of the magnetic resistance film of each magnetic head element in the row bar has become a target height is detected according to the measured resistance. When it is detected that the magnetic resistance film has been lapped to the target height, according to the measured resistance, the lapping operation is ended. Thereafter, the lapped surface of the row bar is worked to form flying surfaces of a plurality of magnetic head sliders. Then, the row bar is cut into parts having the plurality of magnetic head sliders. Finally, the row tool is heated to melt the adhesive bonding the row bar to the row tool, thereby produce the individual magnetic head sliders.
In this manner, a wafer is first cut to prepare a row bar having a plurality of magnetic head elements arranged in a row, and the row bar is then lapped to thereby allow simultaneous lapping of the magnetic resistance films of the plural magnetic head elements. However, there are variations on the order of submicrons in the height of the magnetic resistance film between the individual magnetic head elements in the row bar, according to the film forming accuracy of the magnetic resistance film or the bonding accuracy of the row bar to the row tool. Accordingly, such variations must be corrected in lapping the row bar, so as to mass-produce magnetic head sliders having uniform characteristics.
Various methods have conventionally been proposed to correct the variations on the order of submicrons in lapping. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,346 has proposed a method including the steps of forming a plurality of holes in a row tool and respectively applying forces of actuators through the holes to the row tool. However, each actuator is required to have a capability of applying a relatively large force, so as to obtain a desired pressure distribution. Accordingly, it is difficult to manufacture such actuators for applying operational forces to the row tool at multiple points, so that the spacing of these multiple points (holes) cannot be so decreased. As a result, it is difficult to improve the working (lapping) accuracy of the row bar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bonding method and apparatus which can prevent the warpage and/or distortion of a row bar bonded to a row tool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lapping apparatus, row tool, and lapping method suitable for improvement in working accuracy.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix; bonding a plate member to one side surface of said row block; bonding a row tool to another side surface of said row block bonded to said plate member opposite to said one side surface; and cutting said row block to prepare a row bar bonded to said row tool and having a row of said head elements.
Preferably, said plate member comprises a dummy wafer. Preferably, the above method further comprises the steps of bonding another row tool to a cut surface of said row block remaining after said cutting step; and repeating said cutting step for said remaining row block.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for bonding a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix to a plate member, comprising a carrier block having a positioning pin for positioning said row block; a first preheating assembly for preheating said plate member; a second preheating assembly for preheating said row block; a rail assembly having a first block for mounting said plate member and a second block for substantially vertically holding said plate member in cooperation with said first block; an adhesive applying assembly for applying an adhesive to one side surface of said plate member held in said rail assembly; a rinking assembly having a rinking base for mounting said carrier block, a damper for clamping said plate member mounted on said carrier block, a drive mechanism for reciprocating said clamper, and a first presser block for pressing said row block mounted on said carrier block against said one side surface of said plate member; and a bonding assembly having a bonding base for mounting said carrier block, a positioning block for positioning said plate member and said row block mounted on said carrier block, a second presser block for pressing said row block against said one side surface of said plate member, and an air nozzle for spraying air to a bonding portion between said row block and said plate member.
Preferably, said carrier block is in L-shaped configuration and has a hole for vacuum suction. The first preheating assembly has a first heating block having a plurality of grooves each for receiving said plate member, and a first heater for heating said first heating block. The second preheating assembly has a second heating block for placing said row block, and a second heater for heating said second heating block.
Preferably, said first block of said rail assembly is in L-shaped configuration, and said rail assembly further has a third block for pushing one end of said plate member mounted on said L-shaped first block, and a third heater for heating said first block. The adhesive applying assembly has a syringe for dispensing said adhesive, a temperature control block for heating said syringe to a given temperature, a cylinder for vertically moving said syringe, and a robot for moving said syringe along said rail assembly.
Preferably, said drive mechanism of said rinking assembly has a motor, a rinking stroke adjusting disc mounted on said motor, and a connecting rod for connecting said rinking stroke adjusting disc and said damper and having a connecting end offset from an output shaft of said motor.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for lapping a row bar having a plurality of head elements arranged in a row, comprising a lap plate for providing a lapping surface; a row tool having an upper surface, a lower surface to which said row bar is bonded, and a plurality of bend cells formed by a plurality of slits; an air plate fixed to said upper surface of said row tool and having a plurality of holes respectively corresponding to said plurality of bend cells; a presser mechanism for pressing said row bar bonded to said lower surface of said row tool against said lapping surface of said lap plate; a plurality of electro-pneumatic conversion regulators respectively connected to said plurality of holes of said air plate; and a compressed air source connected to said plurality of electro-pneumatic conversion regulators.
The row tool further has a parallel spring mechanism and a pair of fixed cells formed on the opposite sides of said bend cells, each of said fixed cells having a width larger than that of each of said bend cells. Preferably, the upper surface of said row tool and the lower surface of said air plate are polished so as to have a flatness of 3 μm or less. Preferably, said presser mechanism has a lap head for pressing said row bar on said lapping surface by a self-weight, and a pneumatic cylinder for adjustably applying a lapping pressure to said lap head.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of lapping a row bar having a plurality of head elements arranged in a row, comprising the steps of providing a lapping surface by a lap plate; pressing said row bar bonded to a lower surface of a row tool having a plurality of bend cells formed by a plurality of slits, against said lapping surface; and applying individually adjustable air pressures to said bend cells, respectively, through an air plate fixed to an upper surface of said row tool and having a plurality of holes respectively corresponding to said bend cells; whereby said row bar is displaced at multiple points in lapping.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a row tool to which a row bar having a plurality of head elements arranged in a row is adapted to be bonded, comprising a plurality of bend cells formed by a plurality of slits; a pair of fixed cells formed on the opposite sides of said bend cells, each of said fixed cells having a width larger than that of each of said bend cells; and a parallel spring mechanism.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a row tool assembly comprising a row tool having an upper surface, a plurality of bend cells formed by a plurality of slits, a parallel spring mechanism, an insert hole extending horizontally, and a plurality of first holes communicating with said insert hole and opening to said upper surface; an air lead frame inserted in said insert hole of said row tool and having a plurality of air reservoirs respectively communicating with said first holes of said row tool; and an air plate fixed to said upper surface of said row tool and having a plurality of second holes respectively communicating with said first holes of said row tool.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There will first be described a row bar preparation method with reference to
As shown in
The step shown in
In the next stage, an adhesive R2 is applied to one side surface of a row tool 10 as shown in
In the next stage, the row block 11 bonded to the row tool 10 is cut by using a slicer 16 as shown in
According to this method, the rigidity of the row block 11 is higher than that of the single row bar 14. Therefore, the warpage of the row block 11 due to the pressure applied in the bonding step and the distortion of the row bar 14 due to the stress in the cutting step can be reduced. Further, according to this method, the dummy wafer 12 is preliminarily bonded to the row block 11 to increase the rigidity of the row block 11. Therefore, even when the cutting of the row block 11 is repeated, the rigidity of the row block 11 is not decreased, thereby preventing an adverse effect on the straightness of the row bar 14 due to the repetition of the cutting of the row block 11.
There will now be described bonding apparatus according to the present invention suitable for carrying out the above-mentioned bonding method with reference to FIGS. 4 to 34.
In a bonding operation by this bonding apparatus, a dummy wafer carrier block 1 shown in
The L-shaped configuration of the carrier block 1 is intended to allow the side surface of the dummy wafer 12 opposite to the bonding surface with respect to the row block 11 to be supported by the carrier block 1. The carrier block 1 further has round holes 22 and elongated holes 23 for vacuum suction to fix the row block 11 and the dummy wafer 12. The length of each elongated hole 23 is slightly shorter than that of the row block 11 and the dummy wafer 12.
Referring to
As the adhesive, a hot-melt adhesive is used. The temperature control block 32 performs heat management of the syringe 30 so that the temperature of the syringe 30 can be arbitrarily set according to the adhesive to be used. In this preferred embodiment, the temperature of the syringe 30 is set to 140° C. The syringe mounting member 31 is formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic superior in chemical resistance. The support member 36 has two adjusting screws 37 for fine adjustment of the position of the syringe tip 30a along the depth of this assembly. That is, by rotating the adjusting screws 37, the support member 36 on the robot 35 can be adjusted in position along the depth of this assembly to effect fine adjustment of the position of the syringe tip 30a.
Referring to
A presser block 43 is adjustably fixed on the L-shaped block 40. The presser block 43 serves both to guide the insertion of the dummy wafer 12 in pushing the dummy wafer 12 and to press the dummy wafer 12 on the L-shaped block 40. The rail assembly 3 further has a base 44 for mounting the L-shaped block 40, a positioning block 45 for positioning the L-shaped block 40, a pair of L-shaped support blocks 46 for supporting the base 44, and a pan 47 for receiving the adhesive from the syringe 30.
The L-shaped block 42 is formed with two round holes 48 for sucking a lower portion of the dummy wafer 12 and an elongated hole 49 for sucking a side surface of the dummy wafer 12. By vacuum suction of the dummy wafer 12 through these holes 48 and 49, error detection is made in the case that the dummy wafer 12 is not set in a proper position. The heater 41 performs heat management of the dummy wafer 12 set on the L-shaped block 40 so that the temperature of the dummy wafer 12 can be set to an arbitrary temperature. In this preferred embodiment, the temperature of the dummy wafer 12 is set to 100° C. The presser block 43 is provided with two bearings 50 opposed to a front surface of the dummy wafer 12, so as to smoothly insert the dummy wafer 12 between the L-shaped block 40 and the presser block 43. Accordingly, the dummy wafer 12 can be set in a given position without any damage thereto.
Referring to
The rinking assembly 4 further has a drive mechanism for reciprocating the dummy wafer 12. This drive mechanism includes a motor 68, a rinking stroke adjusting disc 67 mounted on the motor 68, a connecting rod 66 for connecting the clamp blocks 62 and the rinking stroke adjusting disc 67 and having a connecting end offset from an output shaft of the motor 68, and a linear motion guide (LM guide) 65. The rinking assembly 4 further has a pressure block 69 for pressing the row block 11, an LM guide 70, and a cylinder 71 for driving the pressure block 69.
The clamp blocks 62 are formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic. A rubber member is provided on a contact surface of the pressure block 69 coming into contact with the row block 11, so as to prevent chipping of the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11. The rinking base 60 is provided with a pin 72 for positioning the carrier block 1. Further, although not shown, the rinking base 60 is formed with a round hole and an elongated hole for vacuum suction to fix the carrier block 1 and the row block 11.
The rinking base 60 is fixed through a heat insulating block 76 to an angled base 75. As shown in
The bonding assembly 5 has a bonding base 80 for setting the carrier block 1, a positioning block 81 for positioning the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11, and a push block 82 for pushing the side surfaces of the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11 opposite to the side surfaces to be positioned by the positioning block 81. The push block 82 is horizontally movable by a cylinder 83. The cylinder 83 is vertically movable by a cylinder 84. The bonding assembly 5 further has a presser block 85 for pressing the row block 11, a cylinder 87 for moving the presser block 85, and an LM guide 86 for guiding a linear motion of the presser block 85. The bonding assembly 5 is further provided with two air nozzles 88 for cooling the bonding surface between the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11.
The push block 82 and the positioning block 81 are formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic. A rubber member is provided on a contact surface of the push block 82 with respect to the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11, and a rubber member is also provided on a contact surface of the presser block 85 with respect to the row block 11, thereby preventing chipping of the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11. The bonding base 80 is formed with an elongated hole 89 for vertical movement of the push block 82, and when the push block 82 is in a lowered position, the push block 82 is not projected from the upper surface of the bonding base 80.
The bonding base 80 is further formed with a round hole 94 and an elongated hole 95 for vacuum suction to fix the row block 11 and the dummy wafer 12. The bonding base 80 is mounted through a support block 90 to the angled base 75. The cylinder 83 is provided with a dedicated regulator for regulating a pushing force to be applied to the push block 82.
Referring to
The heating block 100 has a comb-like shape to improve the efficiency of heat conduction to the dummy wafers 12. The heater 101 performs heat management of the dummy wafers 12 inserted in the grooves 103 of the heating block 100 so that the temperature of the dummy wafers 12 can be set to an arbitrary temperature. In this preferred embodiment, the temperature of the dummy wafers 12 is set to 100° C. The heat insulating blocks 102 are formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic. Pins 104 for mounting and positioning the heating block 100 are press-fitted with the heat insulating blocks 102.
Referring to
The heater 111 performs heat management of the row blocks 11 placed on the heating block 110 so that the temperature of the row blocks 11 can be set to an arbitrary temperature. In this preferred embodiment, the temperature of the row blocks 11 is set to about 100° C. The heat insulating blocks 112 are formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic. Pins 114 for mounting and positioning the heating block 110 are press-fitted with the heat insulating blocks 112.
Referring to
Referring again to
The operation of the above-mentioned dummy wafer bonding apparatus will now be described. First, the dummy wafer 12, the row block 11, and the carrier block 1 are placed and heated on the first preheating assembly 6, the second preheating assembly 7, and the rinking assembly 4, respectively. The dummy wafer 12, the row block 11, and the carrier block 1 are heated to about 100° C. The dummy wafer 12 on the first preheating assembly 6 is moved to the rail assembly 3 in such a manner that the bonding surface of the dummy wafer 12 is oriented upward. Then, the operation button 120 for the adhesive applying assembly 2 on the operation panel 8 is depressed to start applying the adhesive to the bonding surface of the dummy wafer 12.
Whether or not the dummy wafer 12 is set in a proper position is detected by a vacuum through the round holes 48 and the elongated hole 49 of the rail assembly 3. As shown in
After lowering the syringe 30 to such a given position, the robot 35 is moved along the rail assembly 3 as shown by an arrow B in
After completing the application of the adhesive as mentioned above, the dummy wafer 12 is placed on the carrier block 1 set on the rinking assembly 4. Further, one of the row blocks 11 is picked up from the second preheating assembly 7, and set on the carrier block 1 in such a manner that a side surface of the row block 11 comes to abutment against the positioning pin 20 of the carrier block 1 and another side surface of the row block 11 is put on the bonding surface of the dummy wafer 12 to which the adhesive has been applied. After checking whether the left side surface of the carrier block 1 is in abutment against the positioning pin 72 of the rinking base 60, the operation button 121 for the rinking assembly 4 on the operation panel 8 is depressed to start the rinking.
First, it is detected by a vacuum whether or not the carrier block 1 is set in a proper position on the rinking base 60 and the row block 11 is set in a proper position. Then, the presser cylinder 71 is operated to lower the presser block 69 as shown by an arrow A in
Then, the motor 68 for rinking operation is operated to reciprocate the dummy wafer 12 clamped by the clamp blocks 62 relative to the row block 11 as shown by an arrow D in
In the bonding assembly 5, the carrier block 1 is brought into abutment against the positioning block 81. In this condition, the operation button 122 for the bonding assembly 5 on the operation panel 8 is depressed to start the bonding of the dummy wafer 12 and the row block 11. As in the rinking assembly 4, a vacuum is operated to raise the cylinder 84. As shown in
Thereafter, the cylinder 87 is operated to lower the presser block 85 as shown by an arrow B in
Referring to
The carrier block 151 further has a groove 164 for use in abutment of the row tool 10 and the integrated block 13 in the bonding assembly 155, and also has a groove 165 for facilitating the carriage of the carrier block 151. The L-shaped configuration of the carrier block 151 is intended to allow the row tool 10 to be easily placed on the carrier block 151. The carrier block 151 further has round holes 162 and elongated holes 163 for vacuum suction to fix the row tool 10 and the integrated block 13. The length of each elongated hole 163 is slightly shorter than that of the row tool 10 and the integrated block 13.
Referring to
The syringe mounting member 171 is vertically movable by a cylinder 174 mounted on a support member 176. The support member 176 is mounted on a robot 175 horizontally movable along the rail assembly 153. A member 172 is connected to the syringe mounting member 171, and a fine adjusting screw 173 is provided on the member 172. By rotating the fine adjusting screw 173, the vertical position of a syringe tip 170a of the syringe 170 in lowering the syringe 170 by operating the cylinder 174 can be finely adjusted.
The support member 176 is provided with two adjusting screws 177. By rotating the adjusting screws 177, the position of the syringe tip 170a along the depth of this assembly can be finely adjusted. The rail assembly 153 is similar to the rail assembly 3 mentioned above, but the size of the rail assembly 153 for supporting the row tool 10 is different from the size of the rail assembly 3 for supporting the dummy wafer 12.
The rinking assembly 154 is also similar to the rinking assembly 4 mentioned above, but the size of an elongated hole for vacuum suction of the carrier block 151 on a rinking base of the rinking assembly 154 is different from the size of the elongated hole for vacuum suction of the carrier block 1 on the rinking base 60 of the rinking assembly 4. The bonding assembly 155 is also similar to the bonding assembly 5 mentioned above except that some changes are made to support the carrier block 151. That is, the elongated hole 95 for vacuum suction on the bonding base 80, the elongated hole 89 for the push block 82 on the bonding base 80, the positioning block 81, and the cooling air nozzles 88 for the carrier block 1 are changed in size and position so as to support the carrier block 151 in the bonding assembly 154.
Referring to
The heating block 180 has a two-stepped upper surface to facilitate the handling of the row tools 10. The heating block 180 has a comb-like shape with the plural grooves 183 to improve the efficiency of heat conduction to the row tools 10. The heat insulating blocks 182 are formed of electrically-conductive heat-resistant plastic. Pins 184 for mounting and positioning the heating block 180 are press-fitted with the heat insulating blocks 182. The second preheating assembly 157 is similar to the first preheating assembly 6 of the dummy wafer bonding apparatus mentioned above. The operation panel 158 and the control unit 159 are also similar to the operation panel 8 and the control unit 9 of the dummy wafer bonding apparatus, respectively.
The operation of the row tool bonding apparatus is similar to the operation of the dummy wafer bonding apparatus mentioned above with the exception that the row block 11 and the dummy wafer 12 are bonded together in the dummy wafer bonding apparatus, whereas the integrated block 13 and the row tool 10 are bonded together in the row tool bonding apparatus. The workpiece, i.e., the assembly of the integrated block 13 and the row tool 10 as obtained by the dummy wafer bonding apparatus and the row tool bonding apparatus mentioned above is set on a cutting slicer, and the row block 11 is cut by the slicer to obtain the single row bar 14 bonded to the row tool 10 and separated from the integrated block 13. The remaining integrated block 13 is bonded to another row tool by using the row tool bonding apparatus to repeat similar cutting and bonding.
The row bar 14 bonded to the row tool 10 is polished by using a lapping apparatus 200 described below. Referring to
The lap base 210 has an opening 215, and the lap head 214 is inserted in the opening 215. A plurality of (e.g., four) seats 216 are provided on the lower surface of the lap base 210, and the seats 216 slide on the lapping surface 202a. A row tool 218 is fixed to the lap head 214 by screws, for example. An air plate 220 is fixed to the upper surface of the row tool 218. Three pneumatic cylinders 222 for applying air pressure to the lap head 214 are provided above the lap head 214.
Each pneumatic cylinder 222 is connected through tubes 224 and 226 to an electro-pneumatic conversion regulator (not shown) and a compressed air source 228. The air plate 220 is formed with a plurality of rectangular holes to be hereinafter described, and each rectangular hole is connected through an air tube 230 to an electro-pneumatic conversion regulator 232. Each electro-pneumatic conversion regulator 232 is connected to the compressed air source 228.
In lapping the row bar 14 bonded to the row tool 218, the lap plate 202 is rotated in a direction of arrow A in
Referring to
As best shown in
The row bar 14 to be lapped is bonded to a front end portion of the lower surface of the row tool 218. The row bar 14 is formed with a plurality of magnetic head elements and an electrical lapping guide element (ELG element) as a lap monitoring resistance element. In lapping the row bar 14, a relay printed circuit board is mounted on a front end surface 218a of the row tool 218, and pads of the relay printed circuit board and terminals of the ELG element are connected together by wire bonding, so as to measure a change in resistance of the ELG element.
The pressure in lapping the row bar 14 bonded to the row tool 218 is determined by the self-weight of the lap head 214 shown in
Thrust F(N)=Pressure P(Mpa)×Area S (m2)
Accordingly, the upper surface of each bend cell 236 of the row tool 218 is pushed by this thrust. Since the row tool 218 has a parallel spring mechanism as mentioned above, the row tool 218 is slightly displaced in a direction of arrow A in
The displacement of the row tool 218 is dependent on the air pressure supplied, so that local deformation of the row bar 14 can be corrected to allow straight lapping by applying the air pressure regulated by each electro-pneumatic conversion regulator 232 corresponding to each bend cell 236. When the air pressure is supplied to the air plate 220, the row tool 218 and the air plate 220 may be separated from each other, so that the air plate 220 is fixed by two screws to the row tool 218 at a portion shown by the arrow 221 as mentioned above.
Although the air supplied leaks slightly from between the air plate 220 and the row tool 218, the contact surfaces of the air plate 220 and the row tool 218 are polished so as to have a flatness of 2 μm or less, thereby obtaining a substantially linear relation between the supplied air pressure and the displacement of each bend cell 236. If the air leakage is large, the absolute displacement of each bend cell 236 becomes small and the hysteresis is also large. Therefore, the air leakage must be minimized.
The row tool 218 has the plural bend cells 236 and the pair of fixed cells 238 formed on the opposite sides of the bend cells 236. Since the width of each fixed cell 238 is larger than the width of each bend cell 236, the rigidity of each fixed cell 238 is higher than the rigidity of each bend cell 236. Accordingly, in actually lapping the row bar 14 bonded to the row tool 218 as shown in
That is, the row bar 14 automatically becomes a “drawn” condition without the need for bending, and the row bar 14 is subjected to bend control from this offset condition, so that “drawing” is not required in the present invention.
Referring to
The air lead frame 264 is inserted in the insert hole 272 of the row tool 262.
Like the row tool 218 shown in
The air lead frame 264 has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less. Since the air lead frame 264 is a thin sheet, the air lead frame 264 is deformed as shown by a phantom line in
The air leakage from each air reservoir 278 of the air lead frame 264 can be prevented by the rubber coating or resin coating 282 coming into contact with the inner surface of the insert hole 272 of the row tool 262. Further, the air leakage from between the row tool 262 and the air plate 266 can be prevented by the seals 290. Accordingly, the contact surfaces of the row tool 262 and the air plate 266 in the row tool assembly 260 are not required to have a high flatness unlike the row tool 218 and the air plate 220 shown in
While the row bar 14 is in the form of a flat bar in which a plurality of magnetic head elements are arranged in a row, the present invention is also applicable to a row bar 14A as shown in
According to the row bar preparation method of the present invention, the bonding and cutting are performed in the condition that the rigidity of each member is increased, so that the distortion and warpage of the row bar bonded to the row tool can be reduced to thereby improve the quality of products. According to the bonding apparatus of the present invention, the bonding of the row block and the dummy wafer or the bonding of the integrated block and the row tool can be efficiently performed.
According to the row bar lapping method and lapping apparatus of the present invention, the displacement of the row bar can be controlled at multiple points, so that a target shape of the row bar can be easily obtained to realize high-precision lapping.
The present invention is not limited to the details of the above described preferred embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and all changes and modifications as fall within the equivalence of the scope of the claims are therefore to be embraced by the invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus for bonding a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix to a plate member, comprising:
- a carrier block having a positioning pin for positioning said row block;
- an adhesive applying assembly for applying an adhesive to one side surface of said plate member;
- a rinking assembly having a damper for clamping said plate member mounted on said carrier block, a drive mechanism for reciprocating said clamper, and a first presser block for pressing said row block mounted on said carrier block against said one side surface of said plate member; and
- a bonding assembly having a positioning block for positioning said plate member and said row block mounted on said carrier block, a second presser block for pressing said row block against said one side surface of said plate member, and an air nozzle for spraying air to a bonding portion between said row block and said plate member.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a first preheating assembly for preheating said plate member;
- a second preheating assembly for preheating said row block; and
- a rail assembly having a first block for mounting said plate member and a second block for substantially vertically holding said plate member in cooperation with said first block.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carrier block is in L-shaped configuration and has a hole for vacuum suction.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
- said first block of said rail assembly is in L-shaped configuration;
- said rail assembly further having a third block for pushing one end of said plate member mounted on said L-shaped first block, and a heater for heating said first block.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adhesive applying assembly has a syringe for dispensing said adhesive, a temperature control block for heating said syringe to a given temperature, a cylinder for vertically moving said syringe, and a robot for moving said syringe along said rail assembly.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bonding assembly further has a push block for pushing side surfaces of said plate member and said row block positioned by said positioning block on the opposite side of said positioning block.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bonding assembly further has a bonding base for mounting said carrier block, said bonding base having holes for vacuum suction of said carrier block, said plate member, and said row block.
8. An apparatus for bonding a row tool to a first side surface of a row block, a plate member being preliminarily bonded to a second side surface of said row block opposite to said first side surface, said apparatus comprising:
- a carrier block having a positioning pin for positioning said row block;
- a rail assembly having a first block for mounting said row tool and a second block for substantially vertically holding said row tool in cooperation with said first block;
- an adhesive applying assembly for applying an adhesive to one side surface of said row tool held in said rail assembly;
- a rinking assembly having a rinking base for mounting said carrier block, a damper for clamping said row tool mounted on said carrier block, a drive mechanism for reciprocating said clamper, and a first presser block for pressing said row block mounted on said carrier block against said one side surface of said row tool; and
- a bonding assembly having a bonding base for mounting said carrier block, a positioning block for positioning said carrier block, said row block, and said row tool mounted on said carrier block, and a second presser block for pressing said row block against said one side surface of said row tool.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7258151
Inventors: Michinao Nomura (Kawasaki), Yoshiaki Yanagida (Kawasaki), Tomokazu Sugiyama (Kawasaki)
Application Number: 11/415,533
International Classification: B32B 37/00 (20060101); B32B 37/12 (20060101);